and my fingers for fighting…

Blessed be the Lord my strength, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for fighting. Psalm 144.1

Where I live for the summer is like a little taste of heaven; The scenery is absolutely gorgeous, the food is amazing and in abundance, every day a sunny day, lots of things to do and enjoy all my needs provided for. Best of all a community that is loving, forgiving, trustworthy and gracious.

However the burdens I brought with me are like this arbutus tree it’s twisting, peeling, red branches piercing the beautiful. As I struggle with these burdens, frustration, humbling mistakes and a feeling of being a blind woman leading the blind I cannot see yet a conclusion to the buffeting. Yes, God’s grace flows through this place enabling me to carry on with His words echoing in my mind: “He trains my hands for war.”

I had the opportunity to paint under an artist I admire last week drinking in his little suggestions on how to improve and hearing his wisdom of “focus on where you are going not on the bumps along the way lest you loose sight and fall off the path” While I painted my bumps and burdens fell away and I had the joy seeing some good from my efforts.

This painting hangs on the wall in our little room and as I get up in the morning it reminds me of His promise: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him…” He is training my fingers for fighting … but the key, I see is in loving Him even when I don’t feel like it, even when it is hard and I can’t see for the bumps and twists. All I have to do is focus on Him…on loving Him!